THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410110111
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GINA GINN, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
On an average school day in an average school the most commonly heard sounds are those of locker doors slamming and bells ringing.
However, at Norview High School the sounds of silence now echo for as much as 95 minutes at a time.
``What block is it?'' has become a common Monday morning question, along with ``It is week A or B?''
Norview High students have not lost their minds - they are simply adjusting to a new way of thinking.
Block scheduling is a program being tried at Norview this year. The days consist of four ``blocks.'' Three are 95 minutes long, and one block is 45 minutes long. Each morning, students attend two 95-minute blocks, then, depending on what floor their fifth block is on, they will either break for lunch or attend fifth block and then go to lunch.
Sound confusing? Read on.
Once students learn which lunch shift they have, the battle is only half won. The days are divided into odd days when blocks one, three, five and seven are taught, and even days when blocks two, four, five and six are taught. Fifth block is taught every day because this is the block that determines the lunch shift of the student.
Now the last piece of the puzzle is to figure out if it's week A or B. During week A, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are odd days, and Tuesdays and Thursdays are even. During week B, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are even and Tuesdays and Thursdays are odd.
The result is that after two weeks have passed each student has seen each teacher, other than the fifth block teacher, five times for 95 minutes at a time. Therefore, in five sessions two weeks of work have been accomplished.
Trying to pinpoint the exact origin of this idea proved to be a very difficult task. Norview's principal, Marjorie L. Stealey, said she was introduced to it two years ago at a conference in Prince George's, Md.
Richard Kyle, an assistant principal at Norview, created the schedule being used at Norview. He has been nicknamed by his colleagues the ``king of block'' and is the man behind the plan.
The administrations, who kept everyone's best interest in mind, began looking for ways to better utilize time. After visiting some of the many schools in Virginia that were already using block scheduling, Kyle went to the drawing board this summer with a team of teachers in tow and worked until everyone was satisfied.
Stealey said she has heard ``mixed reviews'' from students.
``You can't please everyone all the time,'' she said.
In general, it seems that underclassmen think that the new schedule and longer classes are boring. Many upperclassmen say they are immensely enjoying the advantages of having only four classes a day.
Danny Mayer, a junior, smiled as he said: ``I'd rather have four classes than seven any day - it's easier on my brain.''
A large number of the upperclassmen agree. One junior, Shana Harden, likes the change because ``you have more time to understand what you're being taught.''
Besides, it ``keeps you on your toes,'' said Stephanie Stevens, a senior.
The faculty at Norview is very enthusiastic about the change.
``I hate doing the same things every day - it makes me feel like a robot,'' science department chairman Edwin P. Christmann said.
``I think the students are taking school more seriously,'' English and journalism teacher L. Ann Bixler said.
It has only been five weeks and still plenty of ``what if's'' are being asked. For now, students are adjusting, the faculty is pleased and if something goes wrong or doesn't work out?
``Well,'' Stealey said, ``We can always regroup''. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gina Ginn is a junior at Norview High School.
by CNB